You are using an outdated browser For a better experience using this site, please upgrade to a modern web browser. Subscribe Get Daily Email Subscribe --> Contact Us Sign in Home News & Features Compliance Costs Bunker Prices Bunker Intelligence EMEA News Latest Features World Americas EMEA Asia/Pacific Home News & Features EMEA Russian Flag Registry Grows 36% as 107 Sanctioned Ships Switch Flags: Report Russian Flag Registry Grows 36% as 107 Sanctioned Ships Switch Flags: Report by Ship & Bunker News Team Monday September 28, 2026 Tweet Follow @shipandbunker Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air released the report last week. File Image / Pixabay Russia ’s flag registry has expanded as more sanctioned vessels move under the Russian flag amid growing pressure on the global shadow fleet, according to a new report. The registry grew 36% between January 2025 and June 2026 , reaching 382 vessels from 280 , the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air report published on Friday . Of the 107 vessels added during the period, 87% were already under sanctions when they switched flags. Some 72 of the vessels transported Russian fossil fuels worth €7.5 billion globally by the end of June 2026 , the report said. “ Shadow vessels are shifting to the Russian registry as other options narrow The growth comes as open registries have faced pressure from the EU , UK and US to withdraw flagging services from sanctioned shadow fleet vessels. The number of shadow vessels using false flags fell from a peak of 101 in October 2025 to 45 by June 2026 . Meanwhile, monthly additions to the Russian registry dropped from 25 in December 2025 to three in June . Only 12 vessels left the Russian registry during the period, with two later returning. The report also highlighted the case of Russian-flagged LNG carrier Arctic Metagaz , which suffered an explosion in March and drifted uncontrolled for more than a month while carrying 60,000 tonnes of Russian LNG in the Mediterranean